Rio 2016: Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw on deciding against European Championships

Holly Bradshaw has decided to hone her pole vaulting skills and focus on Rio instead of competing at the European Championships which run from July 6-10 in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam is hosting the biggest athletics event before the Olympics with triple jumper Nathan Douglas captaining the 97-strong British team.

But after sealing her spot in Brazil by becoming British champion in Birmingham last weekend after going agonisingly close to beating her own national record (4.71m), the 24-year-old from Preston will continue preparing in Cardiff and not on Dutch soil.

The Sky Academy Sports Scholar said: "I've opted not to do the European Championships to give myself the best chance in Rio.

"I've decided to focus everything I have on the Olympics and, in my mind, best preparations doesn't include jumping in another major championships this year.

"Winning the British Championships and securing my place on the Rio Olympic team was amazing. My aim going into those trials was to win but mainly to focus on my jumping and execute better technical jumps.

"The last few competitions I've struggled to display the same form as I've done in training but every competition is getting better and more like what I can do in training so I was very pleased.

"Now I just need more time and more competitions to figure some more stuff out and dial my jump in before Rio.

"I am feeling fit and strong and very much looking forward to competing in my second Olympics and fighting for a spot on that podium."

After experiencing some awkward moments when cheering on England in Wales for the Euro 2016 football battle, Bradshaw admitted that ambitions in Brazil this summer helped to deal with the shocking defeat by Iceland. 

She added: "I was gutted when England lost but I soon perked up once I looked across my living room to see bags of my Olympic kit."

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